From East and West: Rethinking Christian Mission

Taking into account that all religions are missionary, Niles challenges Christians to rethink mission in a way that reflects the realities of our present world, including the reality of religious plurality. He looks at three understandings of people from the point of view of Christian mission and how the three ought to interact. Using three Greek words to distinguish and relate these concepts of people, Niles explores the ways in which the laos (the Christian community) could relate with reciprocity to the ochlos (the multitudes, the marginalized, and deprived) and to the ethne (religio-cultural entities) so that the laos could be a blessing to the peoples. He argues that only churches that manage these relationships in a reconciled and creative way within themselves can respond to this new missionary challenge.